Petunia-calibrachoa hybrid plant named ‘SAKPXC008’

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia - Calibrachoa  hybrid plant particularly distinguished by having a pink with red-purple vein flower color and mounding plant growth habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia-Calibrachoa intergeneric hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKPXC008’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia-Calibrachoa (Petchoa) referred to by the variety name ‘SAKPXC008’. Variety ‘SAKPXC008’ originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in December 2006. The male parent was a proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line named ‘5Bdw-7b-V1’ (unpatented), which had a pink flower with unknown vein color and a creeping plant habit. The female parent was a proprietary hybrid petunia line named ‘AM6-64A’ (unpatented), which had a pink flower color with a yellow throat and a mounding plant habit.

In December 2006, an F₁ generation from the initial hybridization was grown and approximately 70 seeds were obtained. In February 2007, 70 seeds were sown and the plants were cultivated in a greenhouse. Segregation in the F₁ generation resulted in plants that had pink flower color with vein, rose flower color with vein and either a mounding or semi-creeping plant growth habit. In May 2007, a plant was selected that exhibited a pink with red-purple vein flower color and a mounding plant growth habit from the group of plants.

In July 2007, plants were vegetatively propagated to produce rooted cuttings. The plants were transplanted to an open field and evaluated for flower color and plant growth habit. A plant was selected that had a pink flower color, an excellent blooming ability and semi-creeping plant growth habit. The selection was propagated and plants of the selection were cultivated and evaluated in an open field. In November 2007, the selection was observed to have its distinct characteristics remain stable. In February 2008, the selection was propagated again and plants were cultivated. In May 2008, it was confirmed that the distinct characteristics of the selection were fixed and stable. The selection was given the experimental name ‘K2008-J-222’. The selection was later named ‘SAKPXC008’ and was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative propagation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Pink with red-purple vein flower color; and     -   2. Mounding plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Petunia-Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a three-month-old plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKPXC008’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2012. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Petunia-Calibrachoa intergeneric hybrid.         -   Common.—Petchoa.         -   Designation.—‘SAKPXC008’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary hybrid Petunia plant line             ‘AM6-64A’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa plant line             ‘5Bdw-7b-V1’ (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated in four weeks. The base             of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9             solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution: 9 water) root inducing             solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays.             Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells,             and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium.             For the first week, the cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 20 seconds, one time per hour. For the second             week, the cuttings were misted one time every 2 hours for 10             seconds. After that time, the cuttings were misted             occasionally until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted             cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter             plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas,             Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium.             Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus             and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every other day             by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry,             slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%             phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air             temperature was 24° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—8 to 10 weeks. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Mounding.         -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.         -   Form.—Decumbant, branching.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—16 cm.         -   Spread.—48 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   General.—Circular in cross-section.         -   Stem length.—1.0 cm from soil line to first node, 11.0 cm to             12.0 cm total.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Pubescence.—Heavy. Color: RHS N155A (White).         -   Anthocyanin color.—Slight, only on peduncle, color is RHS             N187A (Greyed- Purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull.         -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Light.         -   Surface pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS N155A (White).         -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.0 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green). Lower             surface: RHS 147C (Yellow-Green).         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.         -   Flower type.—Solitary.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is             greater than 12 hours and temperature exceeds 13° C.         -   Duration of flowers.—5 days.         -   Shape.—The flowers are funnel shaped with five fissures and             a shallow, yet slight, indentation of the petal tip at the             midvein.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.         -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Color.—RHS 65C (Red-Purple) with RHS 64B (Red-Purple) vein. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Texture.—Dull, light pubescence, pubescence color is RHS             N155A (White). -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower depth.—0.5 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—2.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—5.0 cm.         -   Calyx.—5 sepals, fused below the middle. -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 5 sepals, fused below the middle.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.25 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS             137A (Green). Lower surface: RHS 137B (Green). -   Corolla:     -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 5 petals, fused.         -   Diameter.—5.0 cm.         -   Petal.—Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Base: Fused.             Pubescence: Glabrous. Lobe length: 2.5 cm. Lobe width:             3.0 cm. Color: Lobe color: Upper surface: RHS 69D             (Red-Purple) with RHS 70A (Red-Purple) veins. Lower surface:             RHS 69D (Red-Purple) with RHS 70A (Red-Purple) veins.         -   Corolla tube color.—Inner RHS 8A (Yellow). Outer: RHS 1C             (Green-Yellow) with RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) veins. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5, free.         -   Stamen color.—Anther color: RHS 13D (Yellow). Filament             color: RHS 1D (Green-Yellow).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 11A (Yellow).         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Ovary.—Superior.         -   Placenta arrangement.—Central.         -   Pistil number.—1 per inflorescence.         -   Pistil length.—1.7 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Style length.—1.6 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 144D (Yellow-Green).         -   Seed production.—Absent. -   Disease and insect resistance: Excellent resistance to rain, heat     and drought. Temperature below 10° C. is not optimal. Plants are     susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew, various stem and root rots,     and certain viruses, like Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Impatiens     Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be infested with aphids,     leafminer, whitefly and various Lepitopdera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKPXC008’ is a new and unique variety of intergeneric Petunia Calibrachoa owing to its pink with red-purple vein flower color and mounding plant growth habit. ‘SAKPXC008’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color and plant growth habit as shown in Table 1 below):

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Male Parent Female Parent Characteristic ‘SAKPXC008’ ‘5Bdw-7b-V1” ‘AM6-64A” Flower color Pink with Pink with unknown Pink with red-purple veins vein color yellow throat Plant growth habit Mounding Creeping Mounding

‘SAKPXC008’ is a new and unique variety of intergeneric Petunia-Calibrachoa owing to its pink with red-purple vein flower color and mounding plant growth habit. ‘SAKPXC008’ is most similar to the commercial Petunia-Calibrachoa variety ‘SAKPXC005’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,545), commercially known as SuperCal® ‘Vanilla Blush’; however there are differences in the flower color as described in the table below (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4th edition):

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKPXC008’ ‘SAKPXC005’ Petal color, Closest to RHS 69D (Red- RHS N155B (White) with upper surface Purple) with RHS 70A splashes of RHS 75A (Red-Purple) veins (Purple) throughout lobes and at edge of lobes. Veins are also RHS 75A (Purple) Petal color, RHS 69D (Red-Purple) with RHS N155B (White) with lower surface RHS 70A (Red-Purple) veins RHS 150C (Yellow-Green) veins 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid plant as shown and described herein. 